City pool part of budget cuts

VANESA BRASHIER

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The Cleveland Municipal Pool will not open this year. That decision was made at the Tuesday, March 9, meeting of the Cleveland City Council after it was learned that repairs of $10,000 were needed in addition to the $25,000 it costs to operate the pool on an annual basis.

The pool, which is open only 78 days a year, needs a new sand filter in order to keep the pool water clear and safe for bathers.

“We thought we could get by for another year without replacing the filter, but we cannot,” said Mike Ulbig, the city’s Public Works manager.

City Councilman Mike Penry made the motion that the pool should be closed. That motion was seconded by Councilwoman Durlene Davis, who said the healthy of citizens is paramount.

Penry asked Ulbig about draining the pool for safety reasons, but Ulbig said it would be best to leave the pool full of water.

“By leaving water in it, it keeps the concrete moist and prevents cracking,” said Ulbig, adding that perimeter fencing around the pool should keep people out.

Other city departments could be pinched by the budget cuts, though some departments are simply deferring the purchases of equipment upgrades.

“With our sales tax revenue off by more than $150,000 this year, these are things we would like to put off,” City Manager Philip Cook said to the council.

Some of the items that could be on the chopping block are a slope mower ($20,000) for the street department; a cardiac monitor ($30,000) and reduction of overtime for the emergency medical services department; a new dispatch console ($5,000) for the police department; an entrance sign for the Cleveland Municipal Airport; a new sewer truck for the water and sewer department; and the elimination of training and travel expenses, and the purchase of furniture and fixtures for the city library.

So far only the pool has been formally cut by the council. The rest of the cuts could be formalized at a future meeting.